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Bristol - at a glance

Like Liverpool, Bristol was one of the UK’s most important port cities for many years. Today, the city has a growing population of approximately 460,000 and is home to a booming high-tech industry and major media companies, such as Aardman Animations, the studio that produced the popular claymation films “Shaun the Sheep” and “Wallace & Gromit”. Bristol’s harbor – often called the “Floating Harbour” because of its early 19th century lock gates that keep the water level constant, regardless of the tides – is a popular attraction thanks to its restored and repurposed warehouses and quays.

Bristol’s cultural scene is also a big draw for many of the city’s visitors. World-renowned street artist Banksy is one of Bristol’s native sons, and the city is absolutely teeming with his murals.

Bristol is also a hot spot for modern music: In the late 1980s, local bands like Massive Attack and Portishead created the “Bristol Sound”, which became world-famous under the name “trip-hop”. The scene is still growing at a brisk pace, buoyed by the many students from the city’s two universities.

Bristol is considered one of England’s most beautiful cities: lively and proud of its local traditions, close to the sea and the majestic Avon Gorge, and nestled into a stunning landscape of rolling hills. It’s always worth a visit. There is so much to discover.

Clifton Suspension Bridge

Constructed in 1864 and spanning the River Avon at a height of 75 meters, this suspension bridge is the city’s most famous landmark. The Leigh Woods visitors’ center features an exhibit about the dangerous and thrilling process of constructing the bridge. The patio of the White Lion, the pub at the Avon Gorge Hotel on the eastern bank of the Avon, offers the best view of the bridge.

Bristol Museum & Art Gallery

With a natural history exhibit, an Egyptian exhibit, an Asian exhibit, and an exhibit tracing the history of Bristol, this museum truly offers something for everyone. It also features works by street artist Banksy, who was born in Bristol.

Llandoger Trow

King Street/Queen Charlotte Street BS1 4ER Bristol United Kingdom Show on map

Author Daniel Defoe is said to have heard a story about stranded seafarer Alexander Selkirk in this pub back in the early 18th century, which later became the inspiration for his novel “Robinson Crusoe”. The pub closed down in 2019, after 350 years, as urgently needed renovations would have been too costly. However, rumor has it that the pub’s 15 resident ghosts still haunt the place. The half-timbered house can still be viewed from the outside, at least.

St Mary Redcliffe

Only open to visitors on Sundays when church services are not being held

This Gothic jewel in Bristol’s crown was built between the 12th and 15th century. It’s said that in the late 16th century, Queen Elizabeth I called it England’s most beautiful parish church. The church is open to visitors, and guests are always welcome to join prayer services.

Christmas Steps

The origin of the name is shrouded in mystery, but this narrow lane and its steep steps are certainly picturesque. The little shops and colorful buildings entice almost every Bristol tourist to pay a visit. There are barbershops alongside boutiques selling stamps, knick-knacks, and handicrafts. At the bottom of the steps you will find Chance & Counters, a little board game café.

M Shed

The M Shed is a museum detailing the history of the city and its harbor, located in former warehouses. Alongside historical harbor equipment and a permanent exhibit on daily life during the Second World War, you’ll also find a lot of surprises here, including fascinating stories about the modern music scene.

SS Great Britain

Great Western Dockyard Gas Ferry Road BS1 6TY Bristol United Kingdom Show on map

Measuring in at nearly 100 meters long, the Great Britain was the first ocean-going steamship with an iron hull and a screw propeller. It set sail on its maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York on July 26, 1845. It was built in Bristol, however, which is why it is docked here as a museum ship today.

St Nicholas Market

The St Nicholas market on the pedestrian streets around The Exchange Building is a popular destination for visitors, especially in summer. The market is home to around 60 stalls, many of which sell exotic snacks and delicacies. Each market day has a theme: The vegan and wellness market is on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays are the street food market, and Wednesdays feature a local farmers’ market.

Banksy Bristol Trail

Not much is known about street artist Banksy – not even in his hometown. The city is full of his graffiti, such as the “Grim Reaper” at the harbor and a version of the “Girl With A Pearl Earring” at Hanover Place. A free app guides visitors to the locations of his artwork and provides information about Banksy’s Bristol.

Cabot Tower

Venetian Giovanni Caboto – perhaps better known by his anglicized name, John Cabot – was commissioned by King Henry VII of England in 1497 to sail from Bristol across the Atlantic. He landed on the east coast of North America and claimed that land for England. The 32-meter-high tower was constructed in 1897 to mark the 400th anniversary of Cabot’s journey. Climb the 109 steps for a breathtaking view of the city!

Flight and accommodation

Country information

Country overview

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each country is proud of its traditions – there are even four national soccer teams here – so make sure you don’t refer to all of the islands’ inhabitants as “English”!

The British have a unique cultural history: They have the oldest democracy in modern times, produced some of the foremost European writers, have a past as a colonial power and, last but not least, their royal family. They are also world famous for their particular form of humor even if it is not fully understood or appreciated everywhere. To this day, the islands’ inhabitants indulge in the luxury of occasionally affecting eccentricity – and politically, too, they go their own way, as evidenced by their departure from the EU (Brexit).

Not just politically, but also economically and culturally, London, the capital, is the country’s epicenter. For true wilderness, visit the rugged Scottish Highlands, which are snow-covered on the higher slopes and often inaccessible. Art-loving Edinburgh is a dream city, and hikers and whiskey fans feel the pull of the Hebrides. Visitors to Wales flock to dynamic Cardiff and the industrial city of Swansea in the south and to the rugged rocky slopes of Snowdonia in the north. The progressive and vibrant city of Belfast lies on the other side of the Irish Sea, Northern Ireland.

Geography

The British landscape can be divided into two kinds of terrain – highlands in the north and lowlands in the south. The highland areas are found in Wales and parts of the midlands and the north, and the highest mountain is Scotland’s Ben Nevis (1343 meters). The Scottish highlands boast unique and for the most part deserted landscapes with fjords, lakes (lochs) and moorlands.

The Lake District in the northwest of England is famous for its beautiful lakes and fells. The lowlands consist of sandstone and limestone hills, long valleys and vast, pleasant river landscapes. In the southeast, the North and South Downs extend down to the famous white cliffs of Dover.

Sandy beaches and rugged cliffs are the main features on the Scottish east coast, while further south, rocks, shale, dunes and sandy beaches dominate the coastline.

The Channel Islands – Jersey, Guernsey, Herm, Sark and Alderney off the coast of Normandy – also belong to Great Britain.

General knowledge

Key facts

Population: 66,02 millions (estimate 2017)

Capital: London.

Language

English. Welsh is spoken in parts of Wales, and Gaelic in parts of Scotland.

Flight and accommodation

Restaurants in Bristol

From Michelin-starred restaurants to typical British tea rooms, Bristol has a wide selection of top-notch dining establishments for every taste.

There are family-friendly restaurants and pubs with fast service near almost all of the major tourist attractions, while chic, modern restaurants line the harbor.

Casamia

The General Lower Guinea Street BS1 6FU Bristol United Kingdom Show on map

Price category: Luxurious

Casamia is located in a former Victorian hospital on the harbor. This Michelin-starred restaurant is famous for its simple cuisine: a handful of ingredients, prepared with a Scandinavian twist. Reservations are required.

Loch Fyne

The Old Granary 51 Queen Charlotte Street BS1 4HQ Bristol United Kingdom Show on map

Price category: Moderate

Naturally, a port city like Bristol boasts excellent fish restaurants, and Loch Fyne is one of them. It serves oysters and fresh salmon from Loch Fyne, an inlet on the west coast of Scotland. If you visit on a weekend for brunch, make sure to try the traditional English breakfast.

1766 Kitchen and Bar

Old Vic King Street BS1 4ED Bristol United Kingdom Show on map

Price category: Moderate

This theater bistro is located in the same building as the Old Vic Theatre, in a bright space with high ceilings, beautiful wood furnishings and a stunning minimalist style. And the bistro’s menu is elegant and streamlined as well. There are lots of vegetarian dishes and modern interpretations of classics. The cocktails are also highly recommended.

Glassboat Restaurant

Welsh Back BS1 4SB Bristol United Kingdom Show on map

Price category: Moderate

This restaurant boat offers fish and seafood dishes – and a gorgeous view of the water. From Monday to Saturday, it serves a cheap express menu from midday until early evening (6:15 pm); at other times, meals are à la carte.

Pieminister

7 Broad Quay BS1 5RR Bristol United Kingdom Show on map

Price category: Budget

Pieminister is a chain restaurant with branches throughout England; there are three in Bristol alone. The restaurant specializes in – you guessed it! – pies. The varieties are endless: There are chestnut and quinoa pies, Stilton and kidney pies, and even pies with vegan and gluten-free fillings.

Flight and accommodation

Hotels in Bristol

There are fancy hotels in every corner of Bristol, so it’s up to you whether you prefer to spend the night near the harbor, in the historic district or in the neighboring district of Clifton.

Bristol’s tourism infrastructure is excellent throughout the city; it’s never far to the next attraction, or the nearest pub!

Hotel du Vin

The Sugar House Narrow Lewins Mead BS1 2NU Bristol United Kingdom Show on map

Category: Luxurious

This hotel is housed in a former sugar refinery that was renovated from the ground up, but still maintains its former charm. Brick walls and wooden columns lend the dining room a cozy flair. Other beautiful features are the secluded courtyard and the little rooftop terrace.

Avon Gorge Hotel

Sion Hill Clifton BS8 4LD Bristol United Kingdom Show on map

Category: Luxurious

This luxury hotel in Clifton, above the Avon Gorge, boasts a breathtaking view of the River Avon and the city. You can see Bristol’s famous landmark, the Clifton Suspension Bridge, from the restaurant patio and some of the rooms. The decor in the rooms is simple but elegant.

The Bristol Hotel

Prince Street BS1 4QF Bristol United Kingdom Show on map

Category: Moderate

This boutique hotel is located on a quay on the Floating Harbour, so you’ll have a gorgeous view of the water from the restaurant and hotel bar. It’s the perfect jumping-off point for exploring the city, as practically all of Bristol’s major sights are within walking distance.

ibis Bristol Temple Meads

14 Narrow Quay BS2 0PS Bristol United Kingdom Show on map

Category: Budget

This hotel is part of the ibis chain and is located in the Temple Quay district near Temple Meads station. It offers affordable rooms with basic but comfortable furnishings. Fogg’s Restaurant is also located in the hotel, and the bar is open round the clock.

Flight and accommodation

Nightlife in Bristol

ListMap

Bristol’s nightlife is an attraction in and of itself; the city boasts an enormous number of clubs, craft beer pubs and traditional pubs. If you don’t have a specific destination in mind, King Street is the best

place to start. The local students take over the shopping promenades Park Street and The Triangle in the evenings.

Bambalan

Bristol’s museums close early, so it’s a good thing Bambalan opens in the afternoon. It serves North African snacks, and happy hour is from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm. You can also watch important sporting events, like Rugby World Cup games, on its TVs.

The Gold Bar

A marble bar, dark blue velvet seats and lots of gold: The Gold Bar in the old Lloyds Bank building serves excellent cocktails.

Thekla Nightclub

The Grove East Mud Dock BS1 4RB Bristol United Kingdom Show on map

An old cargo ship converted into a floating night club – that’s Thekla. British bands perform here, and the club hosts a variety of themed parties, from techno to David Bowie night. Here’s a tip: You can often get free entry before 10:00 pm.

The Bristol Hippodrome

St Augustines Parade BS1 4UZ Bristol United Kingdom Show on map

This theater was founded in 1912. It burned to the ground in 1948 and was then rebuilt as one of England’s largest stages outside of London. The diverse bill includes everything from comedy shows and traditional theater to musicals. The Welsh National Opera and the English National Ballet give guest performances here.

The Old Duke

45 King Street BS1 4ER Bristol United Kingdom Show on map

This little red building on King Street is home to one of Bristol’s most popular jazz clubs. There’s live music every night – usually jazz or blues – and there’s no cover charge. The bar serves up a range of different craft beers on tap.

Bristol Balloon Fiesta

Bristol is home to the headquarters of one of the world’s most important hot air balloon manufacturers, so it’s no wonder that Europe’s largest hot air balloon festival is also held here. More than one hundred balloons take to the skies in the mornings and evenings.

Bonfire Night

November 5, 2020

Venue: Various locations throughout the UK

Throughout the UK, fireworks displays are traditionally held on November 5th to mark Guy Fawkes’ gunpowder plot, which was intended to blow up Parliament and kill the king in 1605. The harbor is the perfect spot to watch the fireworks if you’re in Bristol.

Upfest

This street art festival is held in Bristol every year. During the festival and in the weeks beforehand, artists from around the world paint enormous murals on the facades of local buildings. And if you’d like to try your hand at graffiti yourself, you can sign up for one of the workshops.

Flight and accommodation

Phone calls & Internet

Telephone Country code: +44

Mobile telephony and Internet Since June 2017, EU citizens traveling within the EU, and also in Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein have been able to use their cell phones and surf the Net without incurring any extra charges: In other words, customers pay the same price for phone calls, text messages and data volume as they do at home. Restrictions do apply to the constant use of SIM cards abroad, however, and caps may be set on data packages. For full details, contact your mobile telephony provider in your country. Travelers using a SIM card from a non-EU state do not benefit from the new arrangement.

Free Internet access via Wi-Fi is possible in many busy tourist spots. When using public Wi-Fi networks, it is a wise precaution to ensure encryption of all passwords, credit card details and banking credentials entered. Use of a VPN app or security software to check the safety of a hotspot is recommended.

Flight and accommodation

Shopping in Bristol

Key Areas and shopping centers

Bristol is an ideal destination for any die-hard shopper. The most famous and elegant shopping promenades include Park Street, Queens Road and The Triangle, which feature boutiques, jewelry stores, book shops and galleries. The Bristol Shopping Quarter (bristolshoppingquarter.co.uk) comprises the Cabot Circus and The Galleries shopping centers, along with the pedestrian-only roads Broadmead, Quakers Friar and The Arcade. Most shops here sell fashionable clothing, accessories and shoes, and the streets are lined with inviting cafés and restaurants. The Mall at Cribbs Causeway (mallcribbs.com) at the intersection of the M4 and M5 is one of southern England’s largest shopping centers.

Markets

Markets are held year-round in Bristol. One of the most famous is the St Nicholas Market (bristol.gov.uk) in the historical Corn Exchange building. There are regular themed market days as well, from farmers’ markets to flea markets. An art and antiques market is held below and on the arcades of the Harbourside (theharboursidemarket.co.uk) on weekends. If you’re in Bristol on a Friday, pay a visit to Finzels Reach Market on Bristol Bridge: a street food market with a fantastic selection (Old Temple Street, from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm).

7 days forecast

Climate & best time to visit United Kingdom

Temperate climate, damp and warm in the summer, wet and cool in the winter. Due to its island location, the United Kingdom has extremely changeable weather. A great deal of rain falls on the west coast and on high ground, and it’s colder and windier on the north coast. The southeast is sunnier than the north and has less rain. The southwestern part of the country has the mildest climate.

The best time to visit is high summer although even then, relatively low temperatures and rain are always a possibility, especially in the northern regions. Southern England’s seaside resorts are at their best in July and August.

Flight and accommodation

Visa & Immigration

Flight and accommodation

Traveller etiquette

Social Conventions

When first introduced, you extend your right hand and say “Pleased to meet you” or, a little more formally, “How do you do?” For friends and acquaintances, the usual greeting is “hello” or “hi” or the slightly more formal “Good morning/afternoon/evening!”

Hosts appreciate chocolates or a bottle of wine. If invited to dinner, wait till everyone has been served before starting to eat. If you accidentally bump into or get in the way of a passerby on the metro or on the street, it’s polite to say “sorry”; begin a request for information with “excuse me.” It is the tradition in Great Britain to form and line and wait, overtaking (queue jumping) and pushing are frowned upon.

Clothing

Casual clothing is acceptable, but more elegant clothing is often expected in nightclubs and restaurants.

Jeans and sneakers are not permitted in some discotheques; other nightclubs have other dress codes, depending on their clientele.

In public

Topless bathing is permitted on some beaches and tolerated in some public parks.

Smoking is banned in all enclosed public places, including stations, pubs and restaurants, throughout the United Kingdom.

Flight and accommodation

Health

Main emergency number: 112

Food & Drink

Food within the UK is generally safe to eat, with health and safety standards monitored by various government agencies. Tap water is considered safe to drink but bottled water is widely available. If you’re camping, always boil, filter or purify water from streams.

Other Risks

The UK is not a risky destination but travellers should still take appropriate precautions. Summer temperatures in England rarely reach above 30°C but on hot days there is still risk of sunstroke and it’s advisable to wear sunscreen, as well as appropriate clothing. The same goes for winters, during which weather can be very changeable. Waterproofs (or at least a strong umbrella) are mandatory at any time of year. Those hiking in the mountains should come prepared, with appropriate gear and maps if needed but the biggest danger comes from those who disregard warning signs or poor weather.

Although the risk remains low, travellers are advised to ensure they are fully vaccinated against measles, as cases have risen in the past few years. Travellers visiting the UK during the winter may also wish to consider being vaccinated against flu.

If you’re planning to walk in wooded or heath areas such as in the Scottish Highlands, it’s worth taking precautions against tick bites: ensure you wear long-sleeved tops, tuck your socks into your trousers and wear insect repellent. Ticks are known to spread Lyme disease which, although fairly rare in the UK, can affect your skin, joints, heart and nervous system. Symptoms include: a pink or red circular rash which develops around the bite up to 30 days after a person is bitten; flu-like symptoms; headaches; and muscle or joint pain. If left untreated, symptoms can become more serious.

Midges are a hiker’s and camper’s nemesis, especially in the northwest Highlands during the summer. While they’ll do no worse than cause a multitude of unbearably itchy bites, it’s definitely worth covering up and dousing yourself in insect repellent to ward off these persistent beasties.

The weather in Scotland can change in an instant. If you’re walking, skiing or climbing in the hills, it’s vital to be prepared for all weathers. It’s not at all uncommon to go for a walk on a beautifully sunny day, only to find yourself surrounded by mist and drizzle with little warning. Make sure you’re equipped with a map, compass, extra food, layers and waterproofs, and always tell someone where you’re heading before you set out. Scots and visitors alike also find themselves unexpectedly caught out by the sun – you might not need it often, but pack some sunscreen.